The Regeneration Taskforce Approach

A business process to structure and guide project development - the building blocks

There are essentially 5 key stages our approach to community-led regeneration projects for our buildings, which aim to simplify the process for all partners, whilst creating strong decision-making evidence to take a project forward.

 

 

1) Project start up – commissioning

The first step in the business process helps to establish some vital building blocks for a project’s success. This stage should include:

• Establishing a project team
• Collecting important background information
• Establishing whether there are any existing ideas for the use of the church

2) Community profile and background research

This stage generates information on the people, the place and the opportunities for a church. A community profile is intended to provide a quick snapshot of local people and will enable the project team to better understand its community and their needs. It should also be used to provide an evidence base for future funding bids.

The additional background research should help provide a further overview of an area’s priorities and should include:

• Reviewing key documents for the area including any local plans
• Researching key local people and organizations that may need to be consulted on project ideas

3) Initial consultation

The purpose of this stage is to generate further project ideas and to test reactions to any existing proposals. People should be consulted in a fun and accessible way, to reach as wide as possible audience. Consultation could take the form of:

• An open day that includes entertainment and consultation
• Surveys with local people
• Attending existing events to speak to people about the project ideas

4) Options development

Options development requires initial ideas to stand up to more robust testing. We develop mini-proposals for feasible ideas identified in the earlier stages, testing each against:

• capacity and interest from potential delivery partners - contacting and establishing links
• ability to generate capital - assessment of funding availability
• ability to generate revenue - an outline business plan
• scope for adaptation of the building - production of an Assessment of Significance by one of our Conservation Managers

The intention is that from this process, a preferred option will be established. More consultation may be required to establish the preferred option. Assuming there is a sufficient business case to move forward, this is then be taken into stage 5.

5) Full project development

Full project development is the next stage. This is the most detailed stage and includes:

• detailed business planning - producing a plan
• grant & finance applications - sourcing funding
• project development & design - designing and delivering any necessary adaptation works

 

 

 

Once a project has been developed then it will need to be delivered and evaluated. These are two very detailed stages and we won’t begin to outline them in this brief overview of the process.

If you would like more details, or have any thoughts as to how we could improve these stages, please contact either of the Taskforce's Regeneration Officers: